Installation troubles

I have downloaded and setup my site on a local machine but now I've come to load onto the web im having problems can someone help please.

When I goto install.php I fill in the relevant details and the database info but it always says can't access mysql db after clicking recheck.

I have manually tried a php script which connects to the db and prints the contents but for some reason the SS installation routine doesn't like it.

I really need to solve this as I have shown the system to a client and they really liked it plus I can enhance the system to meet some specific requirements but if I can't show this working on the web I won't get the business.

Many Thanks for a great product, I've been searching for a cms and instantly got SS and like its extensibility.

Regards

Trevor
PS saw the video at google and I'm based in UK and see one or two others with UK domains so you have a community here in UK too.

The message shown is that the access is denied. I have noticed that the user info I enter; because its different than the standard root; is not shown in the box next to the message Are the access credentials correct.

Is the .htaccess file writeable? Unable to detect whether I can write to files. Please ensure C:/wamp/www/2/.htaccess is writable.
Is the mysite/ folder writeable? Unable to detect whether I can write to files. Please ensure C:/wamp/www/2/mysite is writable.
Is the tutorial/ folder writeable? Unable to detect whether I can write to files. Please ensure C:/wamp/www/2/tutorial is writable.
Is the assets/ folder writeable? Unable to detect whether I can write to files. Please ensure C:/wamp/www/2/assets is writable.